A SERIOUS case review has been launched following the abuse scandal at a private hospital in Hambrook.

The Safeguarding Adults Board, made up of agencies including South Gloucestershire Council and the NHS, has instigated the review of Winterbourne View hospital after footage secretly filmed by the BBC’s Panorama programme revealed how patients with severe learning difficulties were regularly subjected to mental and physical abuse.

The shocking scenes, which showed an 18-year-old patient being doused with water, left lying on a pavement in freezing conditions and being pinned down by a chair, sparked public outrage including calls for the hospital to be closed down.

A spokeswoman for South Gloucestershire Council said the main priority had been ensuring the safety of patients at Winterbourne View, on Vantage Park industrial estate.

She said: "The board’s immediate priority has been to secure the safety and wellbeing of all patients and, in close co-operation with other organisations, together with a range of urgent interventions, this has been achieved."

She added: "The review will be undertaken by a panel of experts and independently chaired, and will examine the effectiveness of the safeguarding system and processes as they applied to Winterbourne View hospital."

She said the board could not confirm when the review would be completed but said 'given the gravity of events, it will bring forward a report as soon possible'.

The NHS and Care Quality Commission have also begun their own internal reviews and the government has announced more safeguards to protect vulnerable adults.

Health Minister Paul Burstow said: "I'm committed to follow through on some recommendations we have received recently from the Law Commission to implement statutory safeguarding rules that will require the police the NHS, social services to work together."

The footage was condemned by Filton and Bradley Stoke MP Jack Lopresti: "To me the actions of some of the members of staff at Winterbourne View hospital amounted to torture and assault against some of the most vulnerable members of our society.

"Serious failures were clearly made by those responsible for the patient’s well-being and care and these should be rectified and strong action taken as soon as possible."

Labour leader Ed Milliband said the abuse at Winterbourne View should ‘shame our country’.

The Care Quality Commission admitted there had been an ‘unforgivable error of judgement’ when concerns about the hospital, which were raised by former senior nurse Terry Bryan, were not followed up.

Hospital owners Castlebeck apologised unreservedly for the abuse and launched its own inquiry. Thirteen members of staff have been suspended and four people, three men and one woman, have been arrested and released on bail on suspicion of assault and mistreatment.